Offbeat Swashbuckler Enchanting And Funny

October 9, 1987|By CANDICE RUSSELL, Film Writer

In The Princess Bride, evil men are outwitted, true love triumphs over treachery and a small boy comes to see value in the power of imagination. Director Rob Reiner`s enchanting new film is a swashbuckling romantic fantasy set long ago. It`s also hip, contemporary and tongue-in-cheek. For sheer charm and good humor, no other American film in release right now can compete.

Framed as a story within a story, The Princess Bride begins with a talkative old man (Peter Falk) visiting his 10-year-old grandson (Fred Savage), who is sick in bed. The boy wants none of Grandpa`s cheerful bluster or his musty book that delighted earlier generations of boys in the family. But Grandpa prevails, reading aloud about ``monsters, chases, escapes, true love and miracles,`` among other things, and quickly the child is won over.

It`s an often-told tale about Buttercup (Robin Wright), a beautiful maiden, and her love for Westley (Cary Elwes), the farm boy only too glad to do her bidding with the phrase ``as you wish.`` Their separation leads eventually to his presumed death at the hand of pirates, Buttercup`s betrothal to the shifty-looking Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon) and a daring rescue mission. What happens is always interesting, but how it happens -- thanks to deadpan dialogue, splendid performances and the lush cinematography of Adrian Biddle -- is the source of enormous fun.

At every turn, there are amusing characters in situations we haven`t seen before. Andre the Giant, of wrestling fame, is the gentle behemoth Fezzik the Giant who is browbeaten by the tyrannical little guy Wallace Shawn. Andre`s sidekick is Inigo (Mandy Patinkin), a Spaniard quick with a sword so as to avenge the death of his father by a man with six fingers (Christopher Guest).

Reiner`s impeccable taste in casting also accounts for pairing Billy Crystal as Miracle Max and Carol Kane as his carping wife. They are ancient shriveled cynics who lack faith in Max`s methods, but still perform the requested magic on the temporarily incapacitated Westley.

Even the place names in The Princess Bride are funny. Shawn`s shipboard character yells a dire warning that he and fellow passengers are heading toward the Cliffs of Insanity. Later Westley is thrown into the Pit of Despair.

Screenwriter William Goldman`s wit is dryer than a James Bond martini. This accounts for 1980s` lingo from the mouths of characters living around the Dark Ages. When Buttercup is kidnapped, the warmongering Prince Humperdinck says that he`ll be ``very put out`` if she dies. When Inigo and Westley draw swords, they do so with polite reluctance. Inigo says, ``You seem a decent fellow, I hate to kill you,`` and Westley replies, ``You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die.``

In a soft-pedaled manner, the film finds significance in values that our culture seems to have put aside. The notion of one true love for a man and a woman may seem as unreal in today`s world as pirates and dragons. But Buttercup and Westley manage to sustain it.

It`s a rare thing when a film can underscore the pursuit of literature, as The Princess Bride does. Through the wonder of a timeless story read aloud, a boy comes to understand the pleasure that can be gained from books. Also, it`s nice that Goldman refrains from using profanity, except for one well-placed expletive.

For once, the special effects serve rather than overwhelm the story. Used sparingly, they inspire a sense of wonder at good craftsmanship, as when a grossly big rat with fearsome choppers sets a trap for Buttercup and Westley, on the run from Prince Humperdinck.

Mark Knopfler`s lovely music enhances the mood. The recurring motif can`t be heard often enough in the film.

In spirit The Princess Bride recalls The Neverending Story, which also was about a contemporary boy`s fantastic adventure. Reiner`s film is likely to please adults more than kids and to last in memory more than most films this fall.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (3 STAR RATING) A BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN IS SEPARATED FROM HER TRUE LOVE IN THIS COMIC FAIRY TALE. CREDITS: WITH CARY ELWES, CHRIS SARANDON, WALLACE SHAWN. DIRECTED BY ROB REINER. WRITTEN BY WILLIAM GOLDMAN BASED UPON HIS BOOK. VIOLENCE, PROFANITY.